Hyderabad-based defence technology startup Constelli has secured $20 million (approximately ₹182 crore) in a fresh funding round led by General Catalyst. The round also saw participation from 360 ONE Asset and existing investor Pravega Ventures, further strengthening investor confidence in India’s rapidly growing defence innovation ecosystem.
The latest investment takes Constelli’s total funding to $23 million, following its $3 million pre-Series A round in 2025.
How Constelli Plans to Use the Capital
The company plans to deploy the fresh funds toward:
- Accelerating research and development in electronic warfare (EW) and communication payloads
- Expanding capabilities across platforms such as drones, ground systems, naval vessels, and satellites
- Building infrastructure for rapid prototyping and early-stage production
- Enabling faster deployment of field-ready, mission-critical systems
The investment will help the startup scale both technological development and manufacturing readiness.
About Constelli
Founded in 2017 by Satya Gopal Panigrahi and Avinash Chenreddy, Constelli specialises in advanced:
- Signal processing
- Radar systems
- Electronic warfare solutions
The company develops mission-critical systems including:
- Telemetry receivers
- EW simulators
- Tactical radios
- Real-time threat analysis systems
These technologies are designed for aerospace and defence applications where reliability and precision are critical.
Strong Government and Defence Partnerships
Constelli works with prominent defence and research organisations such as:
- DRDO
- Indian Air Force
- HAL
- BEL
In addition to strengthening its domestic footprint, the startup is also exploring expansion into export markets including South Korea and Australia.
Defence Tech: A High-Growth Segment in India
The funding round comes at a time when India’s defencetech ecosystem is witnessing unprecedented momentum.
In 2025 alone:
- Defence startups raised $247 million, the highest annual inflow to date
- Cumulative funding over the past decade reached $711 million
- Around 78% of capital flowed into non-combat technologies such as drones, anti-drone systems, AI and secure communications
Policy support from initiatives like:
- iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)
- Make in India
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat
has encouraged collaboration between startups, armed forces and public sector defence enterprises.
Market Outlook
According to industry projections, India’s defence tech market is expected to grow at a 20% CAGR, expanding from $7.6 billion in 2025 to $19 billion by 2030.
This growth trajectory reflects:
- Increased domestic defence spending
- Push for import substitution
- Growing focus on indigenous manufacturing
- Rising global demand for secure communication and surveillance systems
Constelli’s expansion aligns with this broader transformation of India from a major arms importer to a global defence manufacturing hub.
Founder’s Perspective
Speaking about the ecosystem, Co-founder Satya Gopal Panigrahi highlighted that strong policy backing, increasing investor confidence, and access to deep technical talent have created a favourable environment for building world-class defence companies in India.
Conclusion
Constelli’s $20 million funding round signals growing investor interest in India’s defence technology sector. With strong institutional partnerships, advanced electronic warfare expertise, and expanding production capabilities, the startup is positioning itself as a key player in the next phase of India’s defence innovation journey.
As policy support and capital continue to align, defencetech startups like Constelli are set to play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s self-reliance and global competitiveness in advanced military technologies.
